The Indianapolis journal., 1887-07-01
THE POOR'S FRESH-AIR DAY
Thirteen Hundred Women and Children
from City Carrots Taken to the Woods,
And they Have Gloriously Happy Time Boat
Riding, Playing, Gathering Flowers and
Eating Good Thir IS Provided for Them.

In the forests, and as full of melody. Since the
custom of giving the DOOR one day of fresh air
annually was inaugurated Ave years ago so
many people have never shared its pleasures as
yesterday. To those who went to Bethany Park
it was the brightest day in the year. It was a
perfect day for the excursion The sun shone
clear and hot. but there was an invigorating
southwest breeze that tempered the heat and
made the shaded forest pleasant There are
few poor families in the city that do not know
when 'fresh-air day" comes. and they were all
prepared to 90. The sun had hardly peeped over
the buildings before they began to congregate
at the depot, and an hour before the time ad-
versed for the departure of the train the streets
leading to the depot swarmed with motley
crowd, each person bearing small red card
labeled fresh air." Hundreds of urchins. bare
ly able to toddle, came alone, and with smilin z
faces were ready to depend upon the managers
70 get them to and from the grounds. The
greater number came from the southern part of
the city, and at 8 O'Clock the sidewalks were
blockaded far down Illinois street Many entire
families were in the throng. The MANNED, the
deaf and the blind were not scarce. Fully one
third Of the children negroes
1t wss o'clock when the City Band marched
into the depot at tho head of 200 boot-blacks and
newsboys, under command of Mr.. John g.
Blake. The music stirred the souls of the little
fellows, and they cheered Justify. The appear
ance of the train that was to bear them away
brought forth a fresh outburst of cheering Be-
fore the train had been stopped they began
clim mbing upon the platforms of the despite
the efforts Of the policemen. The committee of
managers took charge of the train, and the cars
were unlocked one by one and filled. In twenty
minutes seventeen cars had been packed as
tightly as "sardines in box" The eighteenth
for the commissary stores, and was
loaded with all the good things to eat that the
market affords When the train was ready to
pull out, at $50 o'clock there were two or three
hundred children in the depot who could not be
taken along, because they had not supplied them
selves with tickets.
The band played. the train moved and thou
sand throats contributed to the general din. 1t
was q difficult task to manage many wild
youngsters, and the two gentlemen stationed be-
tween each car were kept busy preventing boys
from getting upon the platform. No attempt
was made to preserve order within the cars. 1t
could not be done
There were thousand things that attracted
the particular attention of the city grown chill
dren, and if they could have had their way, the
train would have been stopped every half mile
to allow them to view the objects of nature they
know little about. Many on board had WIS.,
fted Bethany Park, and towards the close of the
way out the windows looking for de lake."
and others kept lookout for de tabernacle,
where we got de square meal last year"
Al last the train swung round curve, and
the picnic grounds came into full view. There,
bsfore the eyes of the waits, was the beautiful
lake. dotted with boats; the magnificent hotel
with it's wide verandas; the tabernacle where
they were to be fed; the rolling park dotted with
trees, and the little serpentine creek of White
Lick. Again they shouted. They
loaded, car at time, and forced into line. The
many dashed from the ranks and scampered to
favorite parts of the ground. Such could get
in line. with the band at the head of the process
sion. marched through the grounds, across the
suspension bridge to the tabernacle where they
broke ranks, after short talk by Mr.. Blake,
imploring them TO do nothing that would cast
any reflection upon them their visit.
In five minutes they spread over the entire
grounds. The greatest rush was to the boat
house. The management had rented the twenty
boats for the day for the purpose of giving all
free rides. Ex-Poice Superintendent John
Lang took charge of them and competent oars
was provided for each boat AS rapidly
the children could be handled they were taken
once around the lake, distance of half mile.
Boating was the popular amusement, but 1T was
not the only one on the grounds. There were
swings baseball. football and croquet games
besides various otner amusements.
Two hours of wild fun had sharpened the ap-
petites of the people until they longed for the
ringing of the dinner bell. 1t came at noon,
actly, and their boats and everything else were
abando9sd for a general rush to the taber-
stage were piled enough eatables. appar
emily, to feed army. Rev. r. v. Hunt
invoked the divine blessing and asked
that all those present might always
live in plenty and happiness. The amusing time
came when the food was served Fifty wairers
served six different courses to everyone in the
building There was substantial food in abund-
ance, and ice-cream cake and lemonade galore.
After all had eaten until they could ca. no more
there was enough food left to refeed them Itwas
brought back to the city and will be dis stributed
among the most needy families.
The after-dinner frolic was not IS spirited
that of the morning, but everybody had good
time Hundreds climbed the surrounding hills 4
and gathered wild flowers TO bring home
hard worked mothers, fathers, brothers and
sisters Not many of the children had been
accustomed to long walks over high hills, and by
o'clock wearied faces began to assemble near
the railroad station by the hundreds The bell i
soon called from every direction the stragglers
And In half an hour they were loaded into the
cars for the return trip. There not that
buoyancy of spirit shown in the morning, and
there was nearly as much eagerness to have the
train rush In the depot as there was have it
leave in the morning. At 6:30 o'clock the cars
emptied into the Union Depot, and the
wearied childred trudged along alleys, and up
high stairways TO their homes, where they will
endure poverty, and look back with pleasure
upon the day.
1t would be impossible to name all who are
entitled to credit for the of the under
taking. The train of cars furnished gratu-
ttously by Superintendent Mansfield who
companied the excursion, and gave the needs of
the managers his personal attention. All the
ladies prominent in the charity and Flower
Mission work were along, and worked energetic
ally. Among the gentlemen who helped to make
she affair Mayor Denny ex-
Mayor McMaster. Marcus Brown, ex-Superin-
tendent of Police Lang Councilman Swain.
Rev. Il. V. Hunter and DR. Combs. II was the
first time the boot-blacks and newsboys have
been invited to day in the country with other
children, and it may be said TO their credit,
that they conducted themselves properly.
ANDREW JOHNsON'S BIRTH-PLACE.